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CAMP COUNTDOWN

It did not take long for Tre’Davious White to prove that he deserved to be picked before the 27th pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. White made an impact on the field for the Buffalo Bills as a rookie with four interceptions, two fumbles recovered and he returned one of the fumbles for a touchdown. Coming into his sophomore season, the expectations for the 22-year-old out of LSU have gone way up. But he has the tools to meet them.

He’s a proven playmaker White lined up against the best receivers teams had to offer last season and was a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks. He was made Pro Football Focus’s Defensive Rookie of the Year and named to their top 25 under 25 list. This is what they had to say about the Bills CB.

_ His 92.0 overall grade as a rookie landed him at second among all cornerbacks. A coverage phenom, White forced incomplete passes on 24.1 percent of targets into his coverage, the sixth-highest rate among cornerbacks that played at least 400 snaps in coverage. He also only allowed a touchdown or a first down on just 26.4 percent of targets, the seventh-lowest rate._

With Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde still in the defensive backfield with White, and also adding a veteran like Vontae Davis, the young playmaker should have no trouble continuing to be a force for the Bills.

Meet the Bills Defensive Backs

Check out photos of the Bills defensive backs.

S Jordan Poyer (21)

CB Breon Borders (41)

S Rafael Bush (20)

CB Lafayette Pitts (30)

S Kelcie McCray (37)

S Dean Marlowe (31)

CB Tre'Davious White (27)

CB Vontae Davis (22)

CB Phillip Gaines (28)

S L.J. McCray (38)

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Improved Pass Rush The better the Bills defense does on the line, the better the defense does all over. This offseason, the Bills added pieces to the line, while other pieces have worked on self-improvement.

Star Lotulelei, Trent Murphy, Owa Odighizuwa and Harrison Phillips were added this offseason. Shaq Lawson returned with a better attitude, healthier style of life and a strong skill set. Re-signed was veteran Kyle Williams and it should all spell better results for the Bills in pressuring the quarterback.

With that, look for the defensive backs to take advantage of the confusion the new pass rush causes. Last year, the Bills recorded 25 takeaways in total – 18 interceptions and seven fumbles recovered. Think of the boost the DBs will get to the stat sheet with an improved defensive line.

“But you go back and watch the film there were four or five times for myself, four or five times for Jerry where we either caused an interception, made a strip sack or made the ball flutter and then J.P. or Micah or Tre’ came up with the interception,” said Lorenzo Alexander.

All the experience he got in his rookie season White is no longer a rookie, and he did not spend a lot of time looking like a rookie last year. White proved he belonged last year and he came in to this offseason feeling like he had to prove it all over again.

“What you see, at least in my opinion, kind of in a sophomore year if you will, is players that have come in and had some success…, I guess the relaxation syndrome hits them a little bit in the offseason…,” said Sean McDermott. “In this case, Tre’Davious has been just the opposite to his credit. He’s prepared himself, the way he came back.

“He was in shape when he came back to camp this year. He’s just picked up, really where he left off in January… end of December. Not only what he’s done on the field, but what he’s done off the field, so I’ve been very pleased with the work he’s put into this point.”

Even his new partner in crime, Davis, sees the work ethic and potential in White.

“He’s a good kid,” said Davis. “He listens. He’s full of energy. He’s always upbeat. He’s also a good player. I think he can be one of the best in the league one day. The way he prepares, he’s way ahead of where I was at his age. It’s very impressive.”